Approximately 500 allergists, dermatologists, ENT specialists, paediatricians, general practitioners, pulmonologists and dietitians attended a consensus meeting about food hypersensitivity in September 1990 in Utrecht. At this meeting the clinical manifestations, mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment were discussed. Consensus was reached about the use of terminology such as food allergy (defined as immunologically mediated), intolerance (non-immunological) and aversion (psychological). However consensus was not reached on all points; there was much discussion on the role of food allergy in atopic dermatitis. During the meeting the opinions of the different health care professionals appeared to concur.